Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope

When Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle arrived on Switch during the console’s first year, the strategy mashup of Nintendo’s mascots and Ubisoft’s slapstick alien crew was way better than many of us expected. Even still, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope improves on the original in almost every way. Movement is more fluid, exploration more seamless, and the XCOM-style tactical combat even deeper than before while still feeling manageable and streamlined.

Despite being developed by the company behind Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, Sparks of Hope feels like a Nintendo game at its core: clever, playful, and brisk. Where the first game felt like a strategy homage to Super Mario World, the sequel almost feels like a Super Mario Galaxy spin-off, complete with interplanetary travel and a range of beautiful, unique worlds to explore in 3D. While turn-based combat from behind cover is still the game’s bread and butter, Sparks of Hope is more than just a strategy game, and all the better for it.

Playable On: Switch

Rough Average Playtime: 29 hours